Sub-series consists of census-related maps, as well as descriptions of census enumeration areas and street indexes, used or created by Statistics Canada and its precursors.
The nature and availability of the map types and related geographical products varies by census year and, in some cases, by area. Few census-specific maps exist from prior to 1941; consult electoral atlases and electoral district maps for that period. The majority of the census maps in the sub-series date from 1941 to 1996. The year 1996 marked Statistics Canada's transition from the use of manual cartographic methods to computerized methods. As of 2001, all reference census maps have been computer-produced, and disseminated on Statistics Canada's website.
The remaining description of this sub-series' content is therefore broken down by era of census map, followed by a separate end note regarding textual descriptions of geographical area boundaries.
CENSUS MAPS :
The census maps in this sub-series consist predominantly of reference maps, meaning maps illustrating the location of geographic areas for which statistical data are tabulated and disseminated. Some compilation maps are also included in the sub-series, as are select collection (enumerator/field) maps and thematic (statistical) maps.
1941 - 1961 maps : Most atlases for the 1941, 1951, 1956, and 1961 censuses in this sub-series consists of source maps published by other areas of government (so-called "base maps") that were then annotated by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics, to indicate: Metropolitan Area (MA; for 1941, 1951); or Enumeration Area, by Dominion/Federal Electoral District (FED/EA; for 1951, 1956, 1961). For the 1956 and 1961 census, sub-series also consists of oversize map conglomerates for each Federal Electoral District, with annotations indicating enumeration areas. Note that not all map types are available for every census for each area. Representatives' maps -- the maps taken by enumerators into the field (also known as "collection maps" and "field maps") -- are available for the 1961 census. Sub-series also consists of a few miscellaneous maps that arrived with a collection of maps for the 1951 census.
1966 - 1996 maps : Sub-series consists of varied reference and other maps created or used by Statistics Canada for nearly all censuses from 1966-1996. Generally speaking, these are standard map series produced by census year (e.g., G71-10, G81-12, G91-13, etc.). These maps may depict: census divisions (an area smaller than a province, bigger than a city); census subdivisions (generally equivalent to a township, municipality or city); various metropolitan areas, census agglomerations, census tracts, and consolidated census divisions; federal electoral districts; and/or enumeration areas. [An overview of Statistics Canada's production of these maps ca. 1991 is included in linked 1991 Census Maps sub-sub-series description.]
For the period 1966-1996, the sub-series often includes two versions of each map type : the manuscript version of the reference map (sometimes on wove paper or mylar), as well as Statistics Canada's original digitization of those manuscript maps in .tiff format. For the 1971 census, the sub-series also consists of select maps on in 35 mm negative microfilm reel format.
Sub-series also consists of oversize map conglomerates for each Federal Electoral District, with annotations indicating enumeration areas, for the 1966 and 1971 census; enumerator maps (taken by census representatives into the field, also known as collection or field maps) for the 1971 census; select maps relating to 1977 Census test sites; a few miscellaneous maps.
Sub-series also consists of compilation maps for 1981, 1986, 1996 and 2001. Compilation maps annotate changes in municipal boundaries from one census to another and in this case, the changes annotated for a given census year would be reflected in the subsequent census' reference map.
1861 - 1950 maps : Sub-series also consists of [a microfilmed image?] of one manuscript map of Hochelaga from ca. 1861 that was acquired along with the returns of the 1861 census. Sub-series also consists of a collection of approximately 100 published land maps dating from 1909-1949, some of which were annotated by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics.
OTHER CENSUS GEOGRAPHY:
Sub-series also consists of a collection of booklets with narrative descriptions of enumeration area boundaries used for the 1956, 1961, 1966, and 1971 census, as well as various listings and descriptions of enumeration areas for most census years from 1871 through 1971. A street index for census years 1911 through 1941 is also included. Finally, sub-series includes compilation sheets for the 1971 census (for households and population, adjusted).
